Blogs

10 Tips for Safe Hot Weather Running

As the August sun blazes down here in Texas (and other regions of the northern hemisphere), now is an excellent time to review tips for remaining safe and comfortable during your runs. Many of the following suggestions may seem like common sense, but sometimes sense isn’t all that common. It never hurts to revisit the basics.

Try some of these tips for running in warm weather:

1. Start Out Hydrated and Stay That Way

Race Director Corner - Volume 3, Issue 1

We hope that this new issue finds you safe and well.  This year has certainly been challenging on so many levels.  As race directors, we have all had to make huge adjustments to our race plans.  Some races have been forced to cancel, while others have been able to reschedule, and fewer still have been able to convert to a virtual event.  As the states started lifting restrictions, we have been able to host a few events but with a completely new format.  We’re learning some best practices on how we conduct these races successfully.  The challenge is convin

How to Know When You Need New Running Shoes

Arguably the most important piece of gear for every runner is a quality pair of shoes. In fact, many serious runners own at least a few pair that they wear in rotation. Most shoes are good for around 400 miles of road time, depending on factors such as the texture of the running surface, the runner’s weight, and how his or her feet impact the ground. A heavier runner with an imperfect stride will likely have to replace shoes more often than a lighter runner or someone with a more balanced footfall. Obviously, the quality of the shoes plays a significant role in longevity as well.

Getting Back to Business

As all of you know, the event business has been completely shuttered since March 14.   Every event that should have been held the last several months has had to make the sudden decision whether to postpone, cancel, or try to go virtual.  While these decisions have not been easy for anyone, there has always been the hope that events would get going again soon.  We still don’t know when everyone will be able to go to full capacity on events, but there are baby steps being taken by many to make it happen.  Athlete Guild has been on the forefront since the beginni

On the Road to Inspiration: Running as Meditation

I hope that I’m not alone in my belief that running can serve as a spectacular form of meditation. When I floated this blog idea past my friend, RM, she jokingly(?) replied that running is simply pain — worse yet, pain we willfully inflict upon ourselves. The opposite of a Zen-like state. But I disagree with her sardonic answer, whether or not she really meant it.

The Ritual of Running

Getting Through the Pandemic

We are now entering our 9th week of COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns.  This has been a difficult time for all of us, but the event industry has been hit particularly hard; from the non-profits who depend on funds to the vendors and personnel who make it happen.   The event industry was one of the first to be shut down and will most likely be the last to return.  All of us have had to make some really difficult decisions during this time but we know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and we will all get through this.

Social Distancing and the Avid Runner: 5 Common Sense COVID-19 Tips

Across the nation, state and local governments are issuing “Shelter in Place” or “Safer at Home” decrees in an effort to flatten the curve of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infections. At the time of this writing, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has not issued such a mandate, but many Texas cities have expressed their own orders. Likewise, hundreds of thousands of mindful Texans have entered “self-quarantine” to help quash the spread of COVID-19.

Virtually Happening

With the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a sudden proliferation of virtual races.  With the stay at home orders and social distancing measures in place, it has become impossible to have a physical race so enter the virtual event.  What the heck is a virtual event many of you have asked?  A virtual event is simply an event where you participate but at a different location and possible time from the actual event.  For a race, that means you run on your own at a location of your choosing but at the same distance as the advertised race.  When you are done, you provide

Coronavirus Concerns

The Coronavirus pandemic has many concerned and rightly so.  While none of us has a crystal ball to really know what the downrange medical fallout will be, we do know that the financial effects will be felt far and wide.  As event coordinators, we are very concerned about the repercussions to the non-profits that we work with.  These non-profits host these events because they help to raise much needed funding to satisfy their organizational needs.  While participants attend these events to have fun, win an award, have social interaction, meet a goal, or possibly to just

Running to Beat Multiple Sclerosis

March is National Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. Fundraising runs/walks are popular ways through which runners can help find the cure for this enigmatic affliction.

What Is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a condition in which the body’s immune system turns against the central nervous system. Inflammation caused by these episodes damages nerve cells and the surround soft tissue, blocking or altering messages sent from the brain to various parts of the body.